Fun and festivities in our schools: introducing School for Life’s Christmas Party sponsor, Jon Snead

Christmas is a very special time in Uganda, and each year our students look forward to singing and dancing their hearts out at School for Life’s annual Christmas Party, where we celebrate the year of learning that has been. 

It is arguably our students’ favourite day of the school year - but it is only made possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our fabulous supporter, Jon Snead. 

Above: Mbazzi Primary School enjoying their Christmas Party in 2017.

Above: Mbazzi Primary School enjoying their Christmas Party in 2017.

A real estate agent at The Agency on Sydney’s Lower North Shore, Jon first heard about School for Life through fellow real estate agent, Peter Chauncy - none other than our CEO Annabelle’s brother!

Jon’s mother, Erica, was born in Uganda and so he was thrilled to find a cause he could support that was working to provide a quality education and opportunities for rural communities in a country that is so close to his heart. 

Since 2017, Jon has sponsored School for Life’s Christmas Party as a way of bringing some special Christmas cheer to our students and staff at our campuses in Uganda. 

“It’s just such a nice extra touch for the kids as well,” Jon says. 

“And knowing that parties, of course, are globally, all about joy and happiness….if I could be involved, and sponsor the parties for the kids, I felt that was something that I could really own and enjoy being part of.”

Erica is also a much valued supporter of School for Life, generously offering up a stay at her home in a beautiful French village as an auction prize each year at School for Life’s Black Tie Gala Ball. 

Jon and Erica had also originally planned to travel to Uganda this year to spend a week assisting with building and other projects at our School for Life campuses.

While this was unfortunately not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope Jon and Erica are able to come visit our school one day soon to witness firsthand the joy that is brought to our students by the annual Christmas Party. 

“It’s just one of those things I’m thrilled to be involved in. It’s something that gives me an awful lot of joy,” Jon says. 

“I was on a video call to the parties last year and watching that as they could see me and they were waving and dancing...seeing all that I loved it. And I knew at that moment that was why I got involved - just to see them smile and wave.”

We are so grateful for the support and kindness of both Jon and Erica - it is truly making a difference in the lives of our students over in Uganda. 

Take a look at the image gallery we’ve put together below of Christmas parties past, where our students can be seen having the time of their lives, thanks to Jon. 

Success Stories
Goretti

Sweet and shy Goretti lives with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a small house in the local village. When Goretti was younger, she moved in with her aunt and uncle because her parents could no longer look after her. She was one of our first students at Katuuso Primary, starting in 2011 when she was just 4 years old. Now, Goretti is in Senior One at Mbazzi High School, and is relishing the honour of being a high school student in her community - something that is taken for granted in Australia, but in Uganda, represents freedom and opportunity. Goretti also loves attending School for Life because she hopes to one day become a pilot in Uganda - a dream which she knows can only be reached with the help of a good education.

Violah

Violah has been at School for Life since since she was six years old. Sadly, Violah has experienced hardship no child should ever deal with. Her Dad passed away three years ago, leaving her Mum without the financial means to support her family - so she left Violah and her siblings with their elderly grandmother. Every day, Violah has to wake up at 5am to fetch water, cook meals and make sure that her younger sisters are properly looked after. Then she walks half an hour to get to school. Despite this adversity, Violah has flourished at school and has made many friends. She loves that School for Life is "helping me to build a future". After finishing school, Violah hopes to become a teacher to help other children.

Umar

Umar is one of our best performing students at Mbazzi Riverside High School - but life has not always been easy for Umar. His father abandoned the family in 2015, leaving his mother to struggle to support her five children on her own. School for Life has provided Umar with opportunities that may never else have eventuated for him. Umar begun his journey with School for Life at Katuuso Primary School, where his academic ability was quickly revealed. Now, he is a thriving member of our Senior 1 class and a formidable wing on the football team. With a love for mathematics, Umar is set on studying electronic engineering after finishing his senior studies - a goal which he is the first to admit is now within reach thanks to the skills and resources provided to him by School for Life.

Rose Nambooze

Rose is a 32‐year‐old single mother of one. She started working with SFL in 2013, after taking part in our tailoring training program. Prior to working with us, she was unemployed and living in her father's home helping to care for her father, who had cataracts, and his farm.
Thanks to her full time employment, Rose was able to save enough money to pay for an eye operation and restore her father's sight, allowing him to return to work as a mechanic. Now, Rose has moved into her own home and no longer relies on her father financially. 

Joseph

Joseph is one of our Special Needs teachers at Katuuso. After surviving a severe case of malaria at age four, he was left permanently deaf. He was raised by his single mother and attended a nursery school for the handicapped and later transferred to a school for the Deaf in Kampala. He eventually mastered sign language and pursued a university degree in education. Joseph decided to become a teacher so that he could give the gift of education to others who are hearing impaired.

Teddy Namatovu

Teddy is a participant in the Kumi Tailoring Program and four of her five children attend Katuuso Primary School. She and her husband farm two acres of land, which supplies fluctuating revenue. Participation in the Kumi Tailoring Project has secured income to reliably pay for school fees, nutritious meals and renovations to the family home. Teddy has gained a great deal of self-esteem from her ability to support her family and she takes pride in independently financing the education of all five children. Teddy has also been working on her numeracy and administration skills. She was appointed Treasurer of the tailoring group and will be responsible for keeping records of their savings.

Flaviah Nassaazi

Flaviah Nassaazi started working at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School in 2011. Prior to cooking at the school, she and her husband were subsistence farmers. They worked tirelessly for small yields and minimal income to support their family. Flaviah's cooking job not only enables her to pay school fees for her children, but she has also invested in a local barbershop business. She is now passing her cooking skills onto her eldest son Frank, who has also joined the school's cooking staff. Flaviah and her husband attend the adult literacy classes offered weekly at the school. Her English and reading have improved immensely, as well as her confidence.

Rachel

In 2010, Rachel began as a cleaner at Katuuso Primary and Vocational School. She was working to save money to study to be a teacher at University. Thanks to Barrie and Simone Goldsmith, her dream of studying came true and she is now fully qualified.